In downtown Portland, you can explore walkable streets, world-class shopping, cultural institutions and a beloved public square.

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The South Park Blocks are at the heart of downtown's Cultural District.

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From the theaters and museums of the Cultural District to parks that play host to festivals and farmers’ markets, downtown puts a wide range of entertainment within easy walking distance.

The long green lawns, riverside paths and refreshing fountains of Waterfront Park are a magnet for joggers, cyclists and Frisbee flingers; they also set the stage for a full slate of summer festivals, including the century-old Rose Festival (May-June) and the legendary Oregon Brewers Festival (July).

Nicknamed Portland’s Living Room, red-brick-lined Pioneer Courthouse Square is a hub of civicfun. The most-visited spot in town hosts some 300events each year, including a farmers’ market on summer Mondays, freeconcerts, movies and a grand holiday tree-lightingparty.

Director Park, located just a block from Pioneer Courthouse Square, is a former parking lot that was converted into a public square in 2009. The park features a café, ample outdoor seating and a fountain, and plays host to occasional events in the summer. It’s also a great place to sit with your lunch from the Alder food cart pod.

A short walk away, the Portland Art Museumshowcases a top-notch collection ofAsian and Native American artifacts and frequenttouring exhibits. And just across the South Park Blocks (a shady, inviting attraction in their own right), you’ll find the Oregon History Museum, with its extensive collection of artifacts and exhibits tracing the region’s history back to its first inhabitants.

Dating back to 1992, the Portland Farmers Market (three seasonal downtown locations) is adazzling — and palate-pleasing — display ofOregon’s bounty, with dozens of growers and foodvendors. And the market’s not just for folks with kitchen access; you’ll find a variety of prepared meals, from tamales to biscuit sandwiches.

Portland’5 Centers for the Arts is the premier arts and entertainment venue in the Pacific Northwest. Nationally recognized as one of the top 10 performing arts centers in the nation, the Portland’5 Centers for…

Find out why the oldest museum in the Northwest, the Portland Art Museum, is internationally renowned for exciting art experiences. Located in the heart of downtown’s cultural district, the museum’s campus includes…

Explore Oregon’s past at the Oregon Historical Society! Located in downtown Portland’s South Park Blocks, the Oregon Historical Society’s museum is open seven days a week, and features original and traveling exhibitions…

The spacious Keller Auditorium, formerly known as the Portland Municipal Auditorium, the Portland Public Auditorium, and the Portland Civic Auditorium, was built in 1917 and is part of the Portland Center for…

Downtown Portland’s newest park, this former parking lot was converted into a public square in 2009. Located just a block from Pioneer Courthouse Square, the park features a café, ample outdoor seating…

Since 2002, the green-clad Sidewalk Ambassadors, also known as Portland’s street-level concierges, have maintained a visible and hospitable presence in the downtown area. The Ambassadors are easy to recognize in their green…

The largest downtown collection of Portland’s famed food carts is located between Southwest Alder and Washington streets, from Southwest Ninth to Southwest Tenth avenues. Most carts are open extended lunch hours on weekday afternoons. A…